San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-06-27

BEFORE TIE RATTLE

knew all the pathways of the great town
perfectly, so that notwithstanding the i'll
tense gloom we made fair progress.
For an hour or more we jOurneyed on till
at length the eclipse began to pass, and that
edge of the sun which had disappeared the
first, became again visible. In another five
minutes there was sufficient light TO see our
whereabouts, and we then discovered that
we were clear of the town of Loo, and ap-
preaching large tlat-tOpped hill, measur-
ing some two miles in circumference. This
hill, which was a formation very common in
Southern Africa, was not very high; indeed,
its greatest elevation was not more than
two hundred feet, but il was shaped like
horseshoe, and its sides Were rather precipi-
tOus, and strewn with powders. On the
grass table-land at the top was ample camp.
ing ground, which had been utilized rs o
military cantOnmemt of no mean strength.
Its ordinary garrison was one regiment OF
three thousand men, but as we tOiled up the
steep side of the hill in the returning day
light we perceived that there were many
more warriors than that upon it,
Reaching the tabIe-land at last we found
crowds of men huddlcd together in the ut
most CONSERVATION at the natural phenOme-
non which they were witnessing. Passing
through these without word, we gained a
hut in the center of the ground, where we
were aStOnished to find two men waiting.
laden with our few good sand chattels, which
of course we had been obliged TO leave be-
hind in our hasty flight.
II sent for Them" explained InfadOOs;
"also for these" and he lifted up Goods
lOng-lOSt trousers.
With an exclamation Of raptIrOus delight,
Good sprung at them, and instantly pro-
ceeded to put them on.
"Surely my lord will not hide his beautiful
white legsp exclaimed lnfadOOs regret
fully.
But Good persisted, and once only did the
Kukuana people get the chance of seeing
his beautiful legs again. Good is very
modest uencefOrward they had to satisfy
their aesthetic lOngingS with his one whisker.
his transparent eye, and his movable teeth.
Still gazing with fond remembrance at
Goods trousers, InfadOOS next informed US
that he had summoned the regiments to eX-
plain to them fully the rebellion which was
decided on by the Chiefs and to introduce to
them the rightful heir to the throne, IgnOSi.
In half an hour the troops, in all nearly
twenty thousand men, constituting the flow
a large open space, to which we proceeded.
The men were drawn up in three sides of
dense square, and presented a magnificent
spectacle We took our station on the open
side of the square, and were speedily sur
rounded by all the principal chiefs and off
GERS.
These, after silence had been proclaimed,
InfadOOs proceeded to address. lie narrated
u IN, vii, a I,n
for like most Kukuanas of high rank, he was
a born oratOr-the history Of IgnOsi's father
how he had been basely murdered by Twala,
the king, and his wife and child driven out
to starve. Then he pointed out how the
land suffered and grOaned under Twala's
cruel rule, instanCing the proceedings of the
previous night, when, under the pTetense of
their being evil-dOers, many of the nOblest
in the land had been hauled forth and cruelty
done to death.
Next he went on to say that the white
lords from the stars, looking down on the
land, had perceived its trouble, and deter
mined, at great personal Inconvenience, to
alleviate its lot; how they had accordingly
taken the real king of the country, IgnOsi,
who was languishing in exile, by the hand,
and led him over the mountains; how they
,
and for a sign to the wavering, and to save
the life of the girl, FOulata, had actually, by
the exercise Of their high magic put out the
sun, and slain the young tiend, Scragga; and
now they were prepared to stand by them.
and assist them to overthrow Twala, and set
up the rightful king, lgnOsi, in his place.
He finished his discourse amidst murmur
of appreciation, and then IgnOs stepped for
ward and began to speak. Having reiterat-
ed all that InfadoOs, his uncle, had said he
concluded powerful speech in these words:
"Oh, chiefs, captains, soldiers, and people,
We have heard my words. Now must We
make choice between me and him who sits
upon my throne, the uncle who killed his
brother, and hunted his brothers child forth
to die in the cold and the night That | am
indeed the king, these"-pOnting to the
chiefs-"can tell We, for they have seen the
snake about my middle. If | were not the
king, would these white men be on my side,
with all their magic? Tremble, chiefs, cap
tains, soldiers and people! Is not the dark
ness they have brought upon the land to
cOnfOund Twala, and cover our flight, yet
before your eyes%
at is" answered the soldiers.
81 am the king; | say to we, am the
king" went on IgnOsi. drawing up his great
stature to its full, and lifting his broad
baded battle-aX above his head. ''If there
be any man among We who says that it is not
so, let him stand forth and | will fight him
now, and his blood shall be red token that
tell We true. Let him stand forth, | say"
and he shook the great ak till it flashed in
the sunlight
As nobody seemed inclined to respond to
this heroic version of 'Dilly, billy, come
and be killed" our late henchman proceed.
ed with his address.
81 am indeed the king, and if ye do stand
by my side in the battle, if / win the day, We
shall go with me to victory and honor |
will give We oxen and wives, and We shall
take place of all the regiments; and if ye
fall will fall with ye.
"And, behold, this promise do give We,
that when | sit upon the seat of my faith er's
bIOOdshed shall cease in the land. No lon
ger snail >e cry for justice to find slaughter,
no longer shalt The wtchiinlcr hunt We out
so th3t ye be slain without a cause. No man
shall die save him who offcndeth against the
laws. The eating up of your kraals shall
cease; each shall sleep secure in his own hut
and fear not, and justice shall walk blind
throughout the land. Have ye chosen,
chiefs, captains, soldiers, and peOple%'
1--WE have chosen, . kingw came back the
answer.
1T is well. Turn your heads and see how
Twala's messengers 90 forth from the great
town, east and west, and north and south, to
gather a mighty army to Stay me and ye and
these my friends and my protectors. To-
morrow, or pcrchance the next day, will he